TLDR
- Vitalik Buterin confirmed that nearly 50 percent of Ethereum validators support raising the gas limit to 45 million.
- The gas limit increase could improve transaction throughput and support more complex operations on the Ethereum network.
- Vitalik Buterin emphasized the importance of scaling carefully to avoid risks to decentralization and network health.
- The Geth 1.16.0 upgrade reduced archive node storage needs from over 20 terabytes to around 1.9 terabytes.
- The Ethereum community has been promoting the gas hike as a response to rising network demand and congestion.
Ethereum’s co-founder has confirmed a key shift as the network edges closer to a higher capacity. Almost 50% of Ethereum’s validators have now supported increasing the gas limit from 37.3 million to 45 million. This move marks a critical stage in Ethereum’s strategy to handle more activity and support its growing ecosystem.
The change, if completed, could allow for more transactions per block and enable higher computational use. This would help meet rising demand on the network, though it also introduces additional resource pressure. Vitalik Buterin has supported the transition but emphasized the need for balanced scaling.
The development aligns with Ethereum’s technical roadmap and follows major upgrades that reduce resource strain on validators. Client improvements like Geth 1.16.0 have cut archive node storage requirements by more than 90%. These changes support broader participation by reducing hardware demands on smaller validators.
Geth Upgrade Supports Scaling Push
Vitalik Buterin noted that Ethereum’s capacity upgrades follow significant engineering progress across its core clients. He referenced the Geth client’s version 1.16.0, which compressed archive node storage from over 20 terabytes to just 1.9 terabytes. This update supports decentralization by enabling lower-cost operation for validators.
Almost exactly 50% of stake is voting to increase the L1 gas limit to 45m. The gas limit is already starting to increase, now at 37.3m. pic.twitter.com/omUKQHuBvz
— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) July 20, 2025
The upgrade allows more node operators to participate without needing large infrastructure, which helps secure the network against centralization risks. It also improves efficiency by making data access faster and less demanding. These benefits make it safer for the network to support a higher gas limit.
Though the gas limit can only increase slightly with each block, nearly 48% of staked ETH is now signaling the higher cap. This gradual rise ensures the transition remains manageable while still targeting more throughput. Validators continue to align with Ethereum’s long-term goals for expansion.
Vitalik Buterin Emphasizes Thoughtful Network Growth
Vitalik Buterin has repeated the importance of scaling carefully, without compromising Ethereum’s security or decentralization. He warned against increasing capacity too quickly, which could raise costs for node operators. This concern stems from earlier gas hikes that pressured smaller participants and increased reliance on large providers.
Here's an example of recent hard work by the Geth team that makes these kinds of scale increases safe.https://t.co/Wgi2F7mbUW
— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) July 20, 2025
He stressed that true scaling needs more than larger blocks—it requires efficient systems that remain inclusive. This is why client updates play a vital role in Ethereum’s evolution. By easing infrastructure burdens, the network can grow without excluding individual validators.
Vitalik Buterin also pointed to upcoming upgrades like Proto-Danksharding and Pectra as key steps toward improving Layer 2 performance. These initiatives will reduce costs and raise efficiency across rollups. Together, they aim to expand Ethereum’s utility without losing core principles.
Institutional Interest and Broader Momentum
As Ethereum’s capacity grows, institutional interest continues to increase, as shown by large-scale ETH accumulation. Over 56 entities have acquired $6.44 billion in ETH, signaling rising long-term confidence. This coincides with upcoming government actions, including a White House digital assets report.
The market’s attention now turns to how Ethereum’s roadmap unfolds under Vitalik Buterin’s direction. While demand grows, scaling must balance performance with accessibility. The next year could bring up to 10x throughput gains if upgrades proceed as planned.
Vitalik Buterin remains at the center of Ethereum’s technical strategy and community leadership. He guides decisions while ensuring that decentralization, security, and growth stay aligned. Ethereum’s trajectory now depends on stable implementation and support from validators.
